Entries in Sydney
(4)

James Cameron (L) and Mike DeGruy during 22nd Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, California, United States. (Ray Mickshaw/WireImage(SYDNEY) -- Two National Geographic filmmakers, American cinematographer Mike deGruy and Australian television writer-producer Andrew Wight, died in a helicopter crash in Australia on Saturday, according to the company's website.

Wight, the owner and pilot of the Robinson R-44 helicopter, and deGruy crashed shortly after takeoff, according to a statement released by National Geographic. Police said Wight, 52, and deGruy, 60, took off from an airstrip in Jasper's Brush, about 80 miles south of Sydney, prior to the crash.

“We are grieving over the loss of these two extraordinary friends,” said Tim Kelly, president of the National Geographic Society. “Andrew and Mike were part of our extended family at National Geographic, and our hearts, prayers, and thoughts go out to their loved ones. They accomplished so much, but were taken too early, and our world is greatly diminished by their leaving it.”

The pair were in Australia working on a documentary film with award-winning director James Cameron.

Cameron released this statement: “Mike and Andrew were like family to me. They were my deep-sea brothers, and both were true explorers who did extraordinary things and went places no human being has been. They died doing exactly what they loved most, heading out to sea on a new and personally challenging expedition, having fun in the way they defined it for themselves, which was hardship and toil to achieve something never done before. They were passionate storytellers who lived by the explorer’s code of humor, empathy, optimism, and courage. Their deaths are a tremendous loss for the world of underwater exploration, conservation, and filmmaking.”

Ethan Miller/Getty Images(SYDNEY) -- Jerry Lewis, on tour in Australia on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of Australia, was rushed to a Sydney hospital on Friday just minutes before a scheduled appearance, according to a written statement issued by the organization.

In the statement, MDF Australia CEO David Jack said the 85-year-old comedian was "not well enough to take the stage." Lewis has struggled with a number of health problems recently, including a debilitating back condition, heart problems and the lung condition known as pulmonary fibrosis.

Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(SYDNEY) -- Jimmy Buffett is not "wasting away" -- in Margaritaville, or otherwise. In a video posted on his official website, the 64-year-old singer, who was rushed to the hospital after falling offstage during a concert in Sydney, Australia earlier this week, tells his fans he's "on the mend" and thanks them for the outpouring of concern over his well-being.

The video, shot in Sydney, shows Buffet overlooking Sydney Harbor and sporting a bandaged arm. He says he's upset he cannot continue his tour as planned in Auckland, New Zealand, and reassures his Australian and "Kiwi" fans that he'll be back to see them as soon as he can. Buffett adds, "I really am humbled and I sincerely thank everybody out there for their kind words," adding, "I'm gonna be fine and we'll be back to work in April." Signing off, Buffett says, "The show goes on," and, placing his hand pointing vertically over his head in imitation of a shark's fin, tells his legion of Parrotheads, "Fins up!"

Photo Courtesy - Getty Images(SYDNEY, Australia) -- Jimmy Buffett has been taken to a hospital in Australia after falling off stage toward the end of a concert in Sydney on Wednesday. The Australian paper the Daily Telegraph reports the 64-year-old Buffett toppled offstage and into the first row after the show, and was rushed by ambulance to Sydney's St. Vincent's Hospital. According to the paper, Buffett's tour manager, Michael Chugg, got onstage and asked fans to leave immediately.

Wednesday's concert was Buffett's last of three sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House, and came in celebration of Australia Day. An audience member told the paper, "We were in the 10th row and it looked like he did a massive face plant after his encore and pretty much didn't get up...We were told to leave the premises." The fan added, "No one really wanted to leave because everyone was anxious to know if he survived the fall. Everyone was pretty horrified.''

Another audience member told TMZ.com that it appeared as though Buffett was unconscious and had gashed his head.﻿